2023-06-22 23:18:25
Antimicrobial resistance is directly responsible for at least 1.27 million annual deaths today.
If the trend continues then the number could be 10 million by 2050.
It could also cost the world economy up to $100 billion.
Drug development is one of the most important inventions of the modern era. Since then it has been useful to prevent millions of deaths around the planet. At the same time, its abuse has generated the phenomenon known as antimicrobial resistance. Although it seems like something minimal, it is actually a large problem.
To understand the current situation, now the pathogens are more resistant than a few decades ago. For the same reason, the drugs have lost their efficacy and the initial doses are no longer sufficient.
Current and future impact
With this in mind, the antimicrobial resistance It is directly responsible for at least 1.27 million annual deaths today. Although the most serious thing is that if the trend continues, the figure will be 10 million in 2050.
That being said, today the World Health Organization (WHO) published its first global research agenda for the world’s scientists to address the most urgent human health priorities to combat antimicrobial resistance.
The document contains 40 research topics on bacteria, fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to drugs that must be answered by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
#AntimicrobialResistance is one of the most urgent human health priorities.
Today, WHO outlines 40 research priorities on drug-resistant bacteria, fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis that must be answered by 2030.
More information: pic.twitter.com/vv8XIabKjh
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 22, 2023
The WHO Global Research Agenda for antimicrobial resistance in human health will catalyze innovation and implementation research, encompassing epidemiology, cost-effective and context-specific strategies to prevent infections.
It will also involve discovering new diagnostic tests and improved treatment regimens, identifying cost-effective methods for collecting data and translating it into policy, and how to implement current interventions more efficiently in resource-constrained settings.
Ultimately, the evidence generated will inform policies and interventions to strengthen the response to antimicrobial resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
“Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent public health and economic challenge, and good-quality research is a vital part of the response. To help preserve antimicrobials and save lives and livelihoods, this research agenda is a crucial tool for researchers and funders to prioritize research questions and quickly and efficiently generate evidence that informs policy,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR.
Recommendations that should be applied immediately
The research agenda was developed based on a review of more than 3,000 relevant papers published over the past decade. The review identified 2,000 unanswered questions or knowledge gaps, which were consolidated and prioritized by a large group of AMR experts to conclude with the 40 most fundamental research topics. The complete document with the recommendations to combat antimicrobial resistance can be consulted at this link.
As a result, the antimicrobial drugs they become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of transmission to other people. Antimicrobial resistance remains one of the major global public health threats facing humanity and was associated with the deaths of close to 5 million people worldwide in 2019.
Importantly, it is also a threat to the global economy, impacting international trade, healthcare, and productivity. If no action is taken, antimicrobial resistance could cost the world economy $100 billion by 2050.
Also read:
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The 6 most dangerous antibiotic resistant bacteria in the world
CONAMED decalogue to prescribe antimicrobials in the office
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